Managing change-set delivery

ABSTRACT

An approach that analyzes and manages unresolved (i.e., pending, outgoing) change-sets is provided. Specifically, this approach parses the change-set into a plurality (i.e., one or more) of changes to determine the impact each change may have. An alert may be provided to the user indicating whether the change-set should be checked-in based on the determined impact. Specifically, a change-set management tool provides this capability. The change-set management tool includes a parsing module configured to receive an outgoing change-set; and parse the change-set into a plurality of changes. The change-set management tool further comprises an evaluation module configured to evaluate an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.

RELATED U.S. APPLICATION DATA

The present patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/099,593, filed May 3, 2011, entitled “MANAGING CHANGE-SET DELIVERY”, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to collaborative software development. Specifically, the present invention relates to change-set delivery management for software development.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Software development is oftentimes performed by a group or team of developers. A subject software system is developed through design efforts, test efforts, implementation efforts and maintenance efforts. There may be different groups and different group members participating in each of these efforts. Various modeling and other development tools are used for increased communication and consistency during development of subject software systems. A software configuration management system is one such tool. Software configuration management systems allow teams of developers to work with artifacts of a subject software system.

A software configuration is a set of software artifact versions, where only one version of a given artifact is selected by a given software configuration. A software change-set identifies a logical change to a configuration, and consists of a set of one or more changes to one or more artifacts. That is, a change-set is a repository object that collects a related group of file, folder, and component modifications so that they can be applied to a flow target (workspace or stream) in a single operation. Change-sets are common practice in reversion control systems, such as Rational Team Concert™ that uses an optimistic locking model that does not require a check out operation before modification of files or folders. (Rational Team Concert is a trademark of International Business Machines, Corp. of Armonk, N.Y.) All files in a local workspace are normally writable. Typically, modified files remain private to a repository workspace until delivered. In the Concert Rational Team Concert™ source control example, changes are tracked in a local workspace and displayed in a pending changes view. Each modified component in a workspace can include an unresolved folder, an outgoing folder, or both. However, after making these changes, many developers are faced with the difficulty of understanding and subsequently minimizing the effect change-sets may have on other assets when working with multiple branches/streams. Some changes necessarily flow together, requiring developers to carefully examine and possibly manually apply changes across multiple streams, thus decreasing efficiency and accuracy during change-set delivery.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Approaches that analyze and manage unresolved (i.e., pending, outgoing) change-sets are provided. Specifically, at least one approach parses the change-set into a plurality (i.e., one or more) of changes to determine the impact each change may have. An alert may be provided to the user indicating whether the change-set should be checked-in based on the determined impact. Specifically, a change-set management tool provides this capability. The change-set management tool includes a parsing module configured to receive an outgoing change-set; and parse the change-set into a plurality of changes. The change-set management tool further comprises an evaluation module configured to evaluate an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.

In another embodiment, there is a system for managing change-set delivery comprising: at least one processing unit; memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit; and a change-set management tool storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the change-set management tool comprising: a parsing module configured to: receive an outgoing change-set comprising pending changes yet to be resolved; and parse the change-set into a plurality of changes; and an evaluation module configured to evaluate an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on each of the other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.

In another embodiment, there is computer-readable storage device storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to manage change-set delivery, the computer instructions comprising: receiving an outgoing change-set comprising pending changes yet to be resolved; parsing the change-set into a plurality of changes; and evaluating an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on each of the other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an exemplary computing environment in which elements of the present invention may operate;

FIG. 2 shows a change-set management tool that operates in the environment shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows changes made to a file according to embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 4 shows an indication to a user regarding delivery of a change according to embodiments of the invention; and

FIG. 5 shows a flow diagram of an approach for managing change-set delivery according to embodiments of the invention.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely schematic representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the invention. The drawings are intended to depict only typical embodiments of the invention, and therefore should not be considered as limiting the scope of the invention. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. Approaches that analyze and manage unresolved (i.e., pending, outgoing) change-sets are provided. Specifically, at least one approach parses the change-set into a plurality (i.e., one or more) of changes to determine the impact each change may have. An alert may be provided to the user indicating whether the change-set should be checked-in based on the determined impact. Specifically, a change-set management tool provides this capability. The change-set management tool includes a parsing module configured to receive an outgoing change-set; and parse the change-set into a plurality of changes. The change-set management tool further comprises an evaluation module configured to evaluate an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.

This disclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the description, details of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the presented embodiments. Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms “a”, “an”, etc., do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”, or “includes” and/or “including”, when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, it may be appreciated that terms such as “processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “evaluating,” or the like, refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system, or similar electronic computing device, that manipulates and/or transforms data represented as physical quantities (e.g., electronic) within the computing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarly represented as physical quantities within the computing system's memories, registers or other such information storage, transmission or viewing devices. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a computerized implementation 100 of the present invention will be described in greater detail. As depicted, implementation 100 includes computer system 104 deployed within a computer infrastructure 102. This is intended to demonstrate, among other things, that the present invention could be implemented within a network environment (e.g., the Internet, a wide area network (WAN), a local area network (LAN), a virtual private network (VPN), etc.), or on a stand-alone computer system. In the case of the former, communication throughout the network can occur via any combination of various types of communications links. For example, the communication links can comprise addressable connections that may utilize any combination of wired and/or wireless transmission methods. Where communications occur via the Internet, connectivity could be provided by conventional TCP/IP sockets-based protocol, and an Internet service provider could be used to establish connectivity to the Internet. Still yet, computer infrastructure 102 is intended to demonstrate that some or all of the components of implementation 100 could be deployed, managed, serviced, etc., by a service provider who offers to implement, deploy, and/or perform the functions of the present invention for others.

Computer system 104 is intended to represent any type of computer system that may be implemented in deploying/realizing the teachings recited herein. In this particular example, computer system 104 represents an illustrative system for managing change-set delivery. It should be understood that any other computers implemented under the present invention may have different components/software, but will perform similar functions. As shown, computer system 104 includes a processing unit 106 capable of receiving change-sets 115 and delivering them to memory 108. Also, shown is memory 108 for storing a change-set management tool 150, a bus 110, and device interfaces 112.

Processing unit 106 refers, generally, to any apparatus that performs logic operations, computational tasks, control functions, etc. A processor may include one or more subsystems, components, and/or other processors. A processor will typically include various logic components that operate using a clock signal to latch data, advance logic states, synchronize computations and logic operations, and/or provide other timing functions. During operation, processing unit 106 collects and routes signals representing outputs from external devices 118 (e.g., a graphical user interface operated by an end-user) to change-set management tool 150. The signals can be transmitted over a LAN and/or a WAN (e.g., T1, T3, 56 kb, X.25), broadband connections (ISDN, Frame Relay, ATM), wireless links (802.11, Bluetooth, etc.), and so on. In some embodiments, the video signals may be encrypted using, for example, trusted key-pair encryption. Different sensor systems may transmit information using different communication pathways, such as Ethernet or wireless networks, direct serial or parallel connections, USB, Firewire®, Bluetooth®, or other proprietary interfaces. (Firewire is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG)).

In general, processing unit 106 executes computer program code, such as program code for operating change-set management tool 150, which is stored in memory 108 and/or storage system 116. While executing computer program code, processing unit 106 can read and/or write data to/from memory 108 and storage system 116. Storage system 116 can include VCRs, DVRs, RAID arrays, USB hard drives, optical disk recorders, flash storage devices, and/or any other data processing and storage elements for storing and/or processing data. Although not shown, computer system 104 could also include I/O interfaces that communicate with one or more external devices 118 that enable a user to interact with computer system 104 (e.g., a keyboard, a pointing device, a display, etc.), e.g., to submit a change-set 115.

Turning now to FIG. 2, change-set management tool 150, which parses, evaluates, and groups logical change-sets, will be described in greater detail. As shown, change-set management tool 150 receives change-set 115, which comprises one or more changes, typically input by a user 152 (e.g., a developer or group of developers). Change-set 115 can include changes to the contents of individual files, folders, components and/or changes to a component namespace (such as delete, rename, and move operations). During operation, user 152 submits one or more changes, which are incorporated into an outgoing (i.e., unresolved, pending) change-set 115 to change-set management tool 150, where it is received at a parsing module 154.

Parsing module 154 parses change-set 115 into a plurality of changes (e.g., into a set of independent files) for further examination. Change-set 115 is sent to an evaluation module 156, which is configured to evaluate an impact caused by each of the submitted changes. Evaluation module 156 evaluates the impact caused on each of the other changes of the plurality of changes within change-set 115 (e.g., variables, class, method), as well as additional source code external to change-set 115 (e.g., other source code in the same class file). In one embodiment, evaluation module 156 receives the parsed individual changes from parsing module 154 and establishes interdependencies between each of the plurality of changes. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, each of the changes A, B, C, and D made to this Java class file change-set is analyzed to determine the impact each change will have on other parts of the class file. In this example, A and B are completely independent and have no impact on existing code, and are therefore safe changes to accept, i.e., check-in at repository 170 (FIG. 2). Change C is also safe to accept as it's a new method added to this class. However, change D can't be delivered without first examining compatibility with other changes and additional source code external to the change-set. Because change-set 115 has been parsed into changes A, B, C, D, it is easier for user 152 to understand coding interdependencies and determine whether to accept the entire change-set or only a portion (e.g., A, B, and C).

In one embodiment, parsing module 154 is configured to generate an additional change-set for at one of the changes in a change-set based on the impact caused by that particular change. For example, if one change adds a new static constant to a Constants class, parsing module 154 may break that change into its own change-set. Changes to the Constants class could be delivered early, as it has high churn (i.e., a relatively high history of changes/versions) and doesn't break any vital relationships. That is, if a file in the change-set has been modified many more times relative to other files in the change-set, the system marks that file as highly volatile. Parsing module 154 puts this file into its own change-set and delivers it separately from other files with lower volatility.

As another example, if the body of the method addOne (i.e., change C) in the Java class file of FIG. 3 uses the constant NEW_STATE (i.e., change A), then a new logical change-set would be created for change C and will have an established interdependency marked with change A. Therefore, a user who accepts this physical change-set may accept change C only if also accepting change A in this particular example. This required interdependency can be sent and displayed to user 152. Based on the evaluated impact to either the changes within change-set 115 or additional source code, a feedback module 158 (FIG. 2) may indicate that change-set 115 should be checked-in with caution due to the interdependency. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, feedback module 158 may indicate through a textual, visual alert/indication 175 that it's ‘ok’ to check-in the change-set, as only new changes are present. Once user 152 makes the decision to proceed based on indication 175, evaluation module 156 executes the request to check-in change-set 115 to repository 170.

It can be appreciated that the approaches disclosed herein can be used within a computer system to manage change-set delivery, as shown in FIG. 1. In this case, change-set management tool 150 can be provided, and one or more systems for performing the processes described in the invention can be obtained and deployed to computer infrastructure 102. To this extent, the deployment can comprise one or more of (1) installing program code on a computing device, such as a computer system, from a computer-readable medium; (2) adding one or more computing devices to the infrastructure; and (3) incorporating and/or modifying one or more existing systems of the infrastructure to enable the infrastructure to perform the process actions of the invention.

The exemplary computer system 104 may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, people, components, logic, data structures, and so on that perform particular tasks or implements particular abstract data types. Exemplary computer system 104 may be practiced in distributed computing environments where tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in both local and remote computer storage media including memory storage devices.

The program modules carry out the methodologies disclosed herein, as shown in FIG. 5. Shown is a method 200 for managing change-set delivery, wherein, at S1, a user seeks to check-in a code change associated with a current change-set. At S2, the impact of each change is analyzed to determine whether there is a significant change, e.g., to variables, class, method, etc. If no, the change is stored in the base change-set at S3, which is forwarded to the repository for check-in at S4.

Returning to S2, in the event that a significant impact may result from the change(s), evaluation continues at S5 to determine any additional impact to other source code. If it is determined at S6 that the change is interconnected (i.e., references) or impacts other parts of source code, method 200 progresses to S7, where it is determined whether the change is associated with an existing change-set (bucket). If no, a new change-set is created at S8 and, if yes, the change is stored in its existing change-set at S9. If there are no more changes to check at S10, the change-set is checked-in to the repository at S11.

The flowchart of FIG. 5 illustrates the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the blocks might occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently. It will also be noted that each block of flowchart illustration can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

Many of the functional units described in this specification have been labeled as modules in order to more particularly emphasize their implementation independence. For example, a module may be implemented as a hardware circuit comprising custom VLSI circuits or gate arrays, off-the-shelf semiconductors such as logic chips, transistors, or other discrete components. A module may also be implemented in programmable hardware devices such as field programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, programmable logic devices or the like. Modules may also be implemented in software for execution by various types of processors. An identified module or component of executable code may, for instance, comprise one or more physical or logical blocks of computer instructions which may, for instance, be organized as an object, procedure, or function. Nevertheless, the executables of an identified module need not be physically located together, but may comprise disparate instructions stored in different locations which, when joined logically together, comprise the module and achieve the stated purpose for the module.

Further, a module of executable code could be a single instruction, or many instructions, and may even be distributed over several different code segments, among different programs, and across several memory devices. Similarly, operational data may be identified and illustrated herein within modules, and may be embodied in any suitable form and organized within any suitable type of data structure. The operational data may be collected as a single data set, or may be distributed over different locations including over different storage devices, over disparate memory devices, and may exist, at least partially, merely as electronic signals on a system or network.

Furthermore, as will be described herein, modules may also be implemented as a combination of software and one or more hardware devices. For instance, a module may be embodied in the combination of a software executable code stored on a memory device. In a further example, a module may be the combination of a processor that operates on a set of operational data. Still further, a module may be implemented in the combination of an electronic signal communicated via transmission circuitry.

As noted above, some of the embodiments may be embodied in hardware. The hardware may be referenced as a hardware element. In general, a hardware element may refer to any hardware structures arranged to perform certain operations. In one embodiment, for example, the hardware elements may include any analog or digital electrical or electronic elements fabricated on a substrate. The fabrication may be performed using silicon-based integrated circuit (IC) techniques, such as complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS), bipolar, and bipolar CMOS (BiCMOS) techniques, for example. Examples of hardware elements may include processors, microprocessors, circuits, circuit elements (e.g., transistors, resistors, capacitors, inductors, and so forth), integrated circuits, application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic devices (PLD), digital signal processors (DSP), field programmable gate array (FPGA), logic gates, registers, semiconductor device, chips, microchips, chip sets, and so forth. The embodiments are not limited in this context.

Also noted above, some embodiments may be embodied in software. The software may be referenced as a software element. In general, a software element may refer to any software structures arranged to perform certain operations. In one embodiment, for example, the software elements may include program instructions and/or data adapted for execution by a hardware element, such as a processor. Program instructions may include an organized list of commands comprising words, values or symbols arranged in a predetermined syntax, that when executed, may cause a processor to perform a corresponding set of operations.

For example, an implementation of exemplary computer system 104 (FIG. 1) may be stored on or transmitted across some form of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise “computer storage media” and “communications media.”

“Computer-readable storage device” includes volatile and non-volatile, removable and non-removable computer storable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data. Computer storage device includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by a computer.

“Communication media” typically embodies computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules, or other data in a modulated data signal, such as carrier wave or other transport mechanism. Communication media also includes any information delivery media.

The term “modulated data signal” means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal. By way of example, and not limitation, communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared, and other wireless media. Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope of computer readable media.

It is apparent that there has been provided an approach for managing change-set delivery. While the invention has been particularly shown and described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications and changes that fall within the true spirit of the invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for managing change-set delivery, comprising: receiving an outgoing change-set comprising pending changes yet to be resolved; parsing the change-set into a plurality of changes; and evaluating an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on each of the other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.
 2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising providing an indication that the change-set should be one of: checked-in, and further evaluated based on the impact caused by at least one of the plurality of changes within the change-set.
 3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising evaluating an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on additional source code external to the change-set.
 4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising executing a request to check-in the change-set.
 5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising establishing interdependencies between each of the plurality of changes.
 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising generating an additional change-set for at least one the plurality of changes.
 7. A system for managing change-set delivery comprising: at least one processing unit; memory operably associated with the at least one processing unit; and a change-set management tool storable in memory and executable by the at least one processing unit, the change-set management tool comprising: a parsing module configured to: receive an outgoing change-set comprising pending changes yet to be resolved; and parse the change-set into a plurality of changes; and an evaluation module configured to evaluate an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on each of the other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.
 8. The change-set management tool according to claim 7, further comprising a feedback module configured to provide an indication that the change-set should be one of: checked-in, and further evaluated based on the impact caused by at least one of the plurality of changes within the change-set.
 9. The change-set management tool according to claim 8, the evaluation module further configured to evaluate an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on additional source code external to the change-set.
 10. The change-set management tool according to claim 9, the evaluation module further configured to execute a request to check-in the change-set.
 11. The change-set management tool according to claim 7, the evaluation component further configured to establish interdependencies between each of the plurality of changes.
 12. The change-set management tool according to claim 11, the parsing module further configured to generate an additional change-set for at least one the plurality of changes.
 13. A computer-readable storage device storing computer instructions, which when executed, enables a computer system to manage change-set delivery, the computer instructions comprising: receiving an outgoing change-set comprising pending changes yet to be resolved; parsing the change-set into a plurality of changes; and evaluating an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on each of the other changes of the plurality of changes within the change-set.
 14. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 13 further comprising computer instructions for providing an indication that the change-set should be one of: checked-in, and further evaluated based on the impact caused by at least one of the plurality of changes within the change-set.
 15. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 13, further comprising computer instructions for evaluating an impact that each of the plurality of changes within the change-set has on additional source code external to the change-set
 16. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 15 further comprising computer instructions for executing a request to check-in the change-set.
 17. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 13 further comprising computer instructions for establishing interdependencies between each of the plurality of changes.
 18. The computer-readable storage device according to claim 17 further comprising computer instructions for generating an additional change-set for at least one the plurality of changes. 